Worcestershire seamer Charlie Morris pens new deal

CHARLIE Morris has vowed to repay the faith shown in him by Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes and bowling coach Matt Mason after signing a new contract with the club until the end of the 2017 season.

The 20-year-old paceman has been rewarded by the County after making an impressive start to the current campaign.

Morris, who has just completed his studies at Oxford Brookes University, has played an important role in Worcestershire’s early season promotion challenge in the LV= County Championship Division Two picking up 13 wickets in the first five games and also showing great accuracy.

However, Morris has also impressed with a maturity, willingness to learn and determination to take his opportunity after the retirement of Alan Richardson left a place up for grabs in the starting XI.

Rhodes said: ‘We are all delighted with the progress Charlie is making in all formats of the game.

“His attitude is top-class and to have his bowling for the next three-and-a-half years is a huge boost for the club.”

Morris said: “I am delighted to sign this contract and want to thank Steve and Matt for giving me the chances, without which I might not have had the opportunity to get this contract. I want to show my gratitude by working hard and making the most of the next three years and hopefully longer.

“Steve and Matt have also been fantastic in helping me combine cricket with my university work and so has Daryl Mitchell.”

Morris admits he never expected to start the 2014 season in the first team but is happy to have swapped the university library for playing cricket at New Road. He is determined to continue to learn from the senior professionals in the dressing room to improve his game.

He said: “The squad have been fantastic, all the bowlers worked really hard pre-season and we have performed well as a unit."

Morris added: “I’m hoping to carve out a long cricket career, that’s the dream, but the only way to do that is to keep concentrating each week on training hard for the next game and making sure the preparation is solid.”

Morris began the season in his university side and twice dismissed England one-day player Samit Patel in the match against Nottinghamshire. He played in the opening Championship match against Hampshire and has stayed in the side, with his best figures 3-31 in the second innings against Kent.

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